Segarra's Request For Union Givebacks Met With Opposition

HARTFORD — — Four unions — including two of the city's largest — have rejected Mayor Pedro Segarra's request for concessions, the city's acting chief operating officer said.

Segarra was counting on $3 million in union givebacks to help balance this year's budget. The fiscal year ends June 30.

Hartford's director of management and budget, Jose Sanchez, said at a meeting Monday that the city may not receive $2.8 million of the anticipated $3 million in concessions.

In negotiations that began last fall, the mayor asked the bargaining units to pay increased health care contributions — a move he said would help control costs. Segarra did not provide figures for how much of an increase he was seeking. The contributions differ depending on the union.

But at least four unions have declined.

In a memo to Council President Shawn Wooden and Councilman Joel Cruz, Interim Chief Operating Officer Albert Ilg noted that the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Council 4 Local 1716 and the Hartford Police Union — both of which represent more than 400 city workers — did not agree to concessions. The City of Hartford Professional Employees Association, CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 (CHPEA) and the Municipal Lawyers Association (MLA) also declined.

"The management of the city scheduled meetings with the [unions] in the fall of 2013 to begin concession talks," Ilg wrote in a March 25 memo. "Four of the unions, MLA, CHPEA, 1716, and Police, were unwilling to grant concessions. Contributions from the School Crossing Guards, who are part-time seasonal workers, would have been de minims and the city did not pursue concessions from this bargaining unit."

The Hartford Firefighters Association "agreed to pursue savings by way of the Healthcare Containment Cost Committee and the city is actively working with the Hartford Fire Union to achieve future savings," Ilg said.

Ilg also noted the city is in the process of negotiating a new contract with the Hartford Municipal Employees Association. The union "expressed its intent and willingness to explore concessions as part of the collective bargaining process," Ilg wrote in the memo.

He said he could not elaborate further because talks are ongoing.

Maribel La Luz, Segarra's spokeswoman, said Tuesday that officials are still exploring ways to close the gap. Segarra warned in December that if concessions aren't achieved, layoffs are possible.

Several union leaders have said they recently agreed to new labor contracts with the city, and it was unfair of the mayor's office to again seek concessions.

"The city and the union engaged in over two years of negotiations for the current collective bargaining agreement which was signed on August 24th, 2012," Sgt. Richard Holton, president of the police union, wrote in a statement Tuesday. "These negotiations resulted in significant concessions made by the union which included increased health care contributions and increased co-payments, two years without any pay rate increase, reduced retirement benefits and increased retirement contributions.

“The union has certainly done its part in addressing the concerns of the city, while maintaining its responsibility to its membership. However, the city’s expectations of obtaining $3 million in concessions are unrealistic."

Representatives of Local 1716 said that in their most recent contract, approved in September 2012, members agreed to only small pay increases and furlough days. The unit represents 440 city employees.

"We've made a number of concessions already over the past 10 years — numerous wage freezes and the health care still went up," Mark Bibbins, the union's president, said Tuesday. "I don't see where we can give financially anymore. [Local] 1716 augments the quality of life for the City of Hartford's residents and its visitors. We deserve to maintain a decent living wage for our families."

Liz Kavanah, president of CHPEA, said the union and the city ratified a new contract in March 2013 that included "increased co-payments for health care and health insurance."

"We bargained in good faith for that contract. We didn't expect there to be additional mitigation after that," she said. About 53 city workers are members of CHPEA.

Jonathan Beamon, a representative for MLA, declined to comment Tuesday.

Segarra in June put forth a series of proposals designed to increase pension contributions and end expensive health care programs for non-union city employees. The city council approved the measures in December. Segarra also raised the health care contributions for non-union employees.